Cabinet decides to give 3pc share from NFC to FATA

Federal cabinet has decided to give three percent share to erstwhile FATA under National Finance Commission Award by reducing the share of provinces.
Briefing newsmen after cabinet meeting, which was held in Islamabad on Thursday under Prime Minister Imran Khan, Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, who was also accompanied by Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, said FATA Secretariat will be abolished and all administrative matters of the area will be overseen by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Secretariat.
Information Minister said the Prime Minister has directed to speed up the process of NFC Award.
He said the cabinet has also decided to devise a new policy on arm licenses. He said after the passage of 18th constitutional amendment, issuance of arm licenses is responsibility of provinces; therefore, federal government will withdraw its appeal on this count from the Supreme Court.
The Minister said the cabinet decided to establish a high level committee on transformation of Karachi. He said Karachi Infrastructure Development Company Limited will be revamped to make it more effective in executing projects.
Similarly, the Minister said, development of Balochistan is also top priority of the PTI government.
Chaudhary Fawad Hussain said the cabinet decided to reduce the number of foreign visits of federal ministers by 33.3 percent. He said apart from Foreign Minister, no minister will have more than three visits abroad a year.
The Minister said Prime Minister took notice of the problems being faced by farmers of sugarcane. The cabinet decided to start the crushing season from 15th of next month in order to save farmers from losses. He said provincial governments have been issued directions in this regard and Chief Ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will meet with Prime Minister soon to brief him on administrative steps on this issue.